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Prospects Buckel, Olt dealing with separate issues

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Olt drops a single into center 0:34

3/18/13: Mike Olt hits a single to center field in the seventh inning against the Royals

By T.R. Sullivan
/
MLB.com |

MILWAUKEE -- Double-A Frisco pitcher Cody Buckel has been assigned to extended spring training, and Triple-A Round Rock infielder Mike Olt has been placed on the disabled list while waiting to see another eye specialist. The Rangers are still searching for answers to the problems plaguing two of their top Minor League prospects.

Olt, the No. 2 ranked prospect in the Rangers' system, has not played since April 25 after telling Rangers officials he was having problems with his vision. The club has sent him to two eye doctors without a definitive diagnosis. He is scheduled to see an advanced specialist in the next 10-14 days.

Olt was hitting .139 with one home run and six RBIs in 20 games before he came out of the lineup. He told the Rangers he had been dealing with the vision issues as far back as Spring Training.

"He said it has been bothering him, but he thought he could push through it as he saw more live pitching," general manager Jon Daniels said. "It finally got to a point where he reached out for help."

Buckel, the No. 4 ranked prospect, has been fighting persistent control problems and has walked 28 batters in 9 1/3 innings. The Rangers are sending him back to Surprise, Ariz.., where he can work with Keith Comstock, the organization's rehab pitching coordinator. Comstock is highly regarded for his ability to work with injured or troubled pitchers. Buckel is not injured. The Rangers believe his control problems are mental, and he could also see a sports psychologist at some point.

"We're going to use all our resources," Daniels said. "If you watched him throw for the first time, you wouldn't think he was scuffling, but it was just one bad outing. He's not missing by much, but he's missing consistently. We've got to get him back to where he should be. There is no timetable. He and Keith will let us know when he's ready. We want to give him time."